Are direct messages legally private?

They are usually treated as private between sender and recipient, but they can still be evidence in a police investigation, used by the platform under their terms, or screenshotted by the recipient. Private does not mean unreachable.

Can I get in trouble for what I post in a group chat?

Yes, in some cases. Threats, harassment, hate speech, and sharing certain images are still crimes in group chats. The privacy of the chat does not change the law that applies.

What if someone is screenshotting my private messages and sharing them?

Talk to a trusted adult, document what is happening, and report to the platform. If the messages contain intimate images or threats, the law may protect you specifically. If it is causing harassment, you can also report to the police.

Public vs private messages: what is actually private?

Why nothing online is fully private, what counts as 'public' in UK law, and how to think before you post or send.

There is no such thing as a truly private message online. Even direct messages can be screenshotted, forwarded, leaked, accessed by the platform, requested by police under a court order, or read by someone who picks up an unlocked phone. That does not mean you have to live in fear, but it does mean the line between public and private is more about trust than about a setting.

In UK law, posts on social media to your followers or in semi-private groups can still be treated as 'public' for crimes like harassment, hate speech, or threats. A group chat with 30 people is not legally private the way a sealed letter is. Knowing this helps you make calmer choices about what you put in writing, without becoming paranoid about it.

What this looks like in real life

Real examples

You send something venting about a teacher to a 'private' group chat, and someone screenshots it the next day.
A 'close friends' story turns up reposted somewhere public.
Someone reads a notification preview on your phone and now knows what was inside.
An old account you forgot about still has posts visible to anyone who searches your name.

What you can do

Step 1

Assume anything you type could be screenshotted. Write as if it might be read by someone you did not choose.

Step 2

Use disappearing messages or ephemeral features for genuinely sensitive chats, but still avoid putting really private things in writing at all.

Step 3

Lock your phone with a passcode or biometric, and hide message previews on the lock screen.

Step 4

Audit your old accounts. Delete or lock down anything you no longer want public.

Step 5

Use trusted people, not group chats, for venting or sensitive personal stuff.

What not to do

Do not assume 'private' settings on platforms mean what they sound like. Settings change and people leak.
Do not share other people's private messages without their consent. That can cross into harassment or, in some cases, criminal sharing.
Do not put threats or hateful comments anywhere you would not be comfortable defending in front of a teacher or police officer.

Who you can talk to

People who can help

A parent, carer, or older relative if a private message has been leaked.
A school pastoral lead if a leaked message is causing problems at school.
Childline on 0800 1111 if you are being targeted or pressured because of what was in a message.
Police on 101 if a leaked message contains threats or harassment against you.

If something goes wrong

If something private has been leaked, take a breath, screenshot how it was shared, and tell someone you trust. If it includes intimate images, use Report Remove. If you are being threatened or harassed because of the leak, that is a separate issue that you can report to the platform and the police on 101. The leak is not the end of the story, and you are not alone in it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Trusted UK sources

Sharing online safely (Thinkuknow / NCA-CEOP)
What to do if something is shared without consent (Childline)
Online safety guidance (GOV.UK)

Last reviewed: 2026-05-20Next review: 2026-08-20Reviewed against: UK statutory guidance

This is practical educational content to support families. For case-specific concerns about a child's safety, contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 or your local safeguarding team.